promoting the modernization of other countries as

Understanding the “North and a way for them to catch up with Western powers.
South Divide” using Different
Theories and Lenses

Theorists launched great debates regarding

1. Dependency Theory
Dependency Theory looks back on the 3. Realism
patterns of colonial relations which existed
between the North and South and emphasizes how The most criticized perspective yet most
colonized territories eventually become poor dominant and influential.
caused by those relations (Litonjua, 2012) Can be traced from Niccolo Machiavelli
Theorists who advocate this idea believe and Thomas Hobbes.
that the economies serving ex-colonial states Realist vision is pessimistic. It advocates
remain oriented towards serving external rather that the international system is uneven, highly
than internal demand. They are inclined in conflicting and marked by power struggle. It is
pleasing the foreign nation even up to the extent based on how the human nature is characterized as
of sacrificing their own country’s welfare. being selfish and greedy.
The Structuralists defined dependency as States priorities self-interest and that a
the inability of a nation’s economy to complete nation is being judged by the ethics of
the cycle of capital accumulation without reliance responsibility rather than the morals of its
on an outside economy. principles.
This is related to the advocacy of Buy
Pinoy Products.
4. Liberalism
Another program with the same purpose is
the—One Town, One Product. Liberals are opposite of realist because of
a more optimistic view in international system.
The offer that the principle of balance and
2. Walt W. Rostow’s Modernization harmony is found in all forms of social
Theory interactions.
Rostow’s modernization theory, which Reflected in Immanuel Kant’s belief,
outlined historical progress in terms of a society’s universal and perpetual peace is possible because
capacity to produce and consume material goods, states are capable of cooperation and value mutual
became a key foreign policy precept of the respect.
Kennedy administration.
Liberals assumes that through trade
This pushes the idea that other nations economic interdependence, division and war are
should emulate and follow the United States of less likely to happen.
America, with its special ‘way of life’, in
 5. Marxism
Highlights the structures of economic Evolution of Asian Regionalism
power rather than patterns of conflict and
Regionalism is an inspirational enterprise
cooperation.
in human history. As well as being inspirational,
Suggest inequalities in global system. we can even say that it is quietly revolutionary
since it involves the reorganization of political,
As a state in—Global South engage in
economic, cultural, and social lives along the lines
trading with the parts of—Global North, this
of an imagined region rather than according to the
would only result to equal benefits between the
standard political unit of the nation-state.
players because generally, the capitalist or
industrialized countries in Global North tend to In order to understand the ideas of
dominate and exploit the global south. regionalism in Asia and speculate about the future
of Asian regionalism, it will be most helpful to
trace the evolution of Asian regionalism using
four benchmarks: 1968, 1989, 1997, and 2010
World of Regions: Asian (Shiraishi, 2011).
Regionalism
1968
Regionalism The Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) was born with five original
Regionalism refers to the decentralization
members: Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia,
of political powers or competencies from a higher
Thailand, and Singapore. The primary goal of
towards a lower political level.
ASEAN, as far as the United States and its friends
were concerned, was to consolidate Southeast
Asia against communism, which was raging in the
Regionalization Globalization
form of the Vietnam War. Its focus was a security.
 It is the  It is the
process of process of
dividing an international
area into integration 1989
smaller arising from
segments the interchange The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
called Regions. of world (APEC) meeting was institutionalized with the
 Ex. Division of views, goal of monitoring and analysing regional markets
Nation into products, and institutions as well as governing rules and
states or ideas, and norms for facilitating transparent and efficient
provinces. other aspects business transactions in the region. Its focus was
 Regionalism is such as economic and its style was technocratic.
also use in technology,
business as etc.
management 1997
tool.
The ASEAN plus Three (Japan, Korea,
and China) was instituted Japan, Korea, and China
Arising Regionalism were major economic engines. Both ASEAN and
Is the product of economic interaction the Three wanted to benefit from being close each
between Asian countries, East Asian economies, other.
in particular, focused on exporting to developed
country markets rather than selling to each other.
2010
 The East Asian Summit decided to add Factors Leading to a Greater
two more members, the United States and Russia. Integration of the Asian Region
This had initiated a new phase for Asian
regionalism. This regionalism surrounding the big
northeast Asian three is becoming more
comprehensive.
Mutual Benefit – When it comes to trade,
these nations can readily supply each other’s
needs.
Globalization Regionalizatio
n
Nature Promotes Divides an area Trade – The world economy is intertwined to
integration of into a smaller each other whether we like it or not. We all want
economies segments. or need something from another part of the world,
across state including global trade facilities. These nations can
borders all readily supply each other’s needs.
around the
world. Similar Culture – The culture of Asia is
Market Allows may Monopolies are diverse, but they do share many things. This
corporation to more likely to makes it an easier fit during times of negotiation.
trade on develop.
international Monopoly
level; it allows means one
free market. producer Common Goals – The Asian region
controls supply recognizes the mutual benefit of a slow
of a good or integration, and is to accelerate the economic
service, and growth, social progress and cultural development
where the entry and to promote peace.
of new
producers is
prevented or
Similar Security Needs – Aside from
highly
restricted. small localized rebels, this association needs only
Cultural & Acceleration Does not to contend with foreign—supported terrorist
Societal to support groups which are usually handled well.
Relations multiculturalis multiculturalis
m through free m.
and Asia’s Impact on Globalization
inexpensive
movement of Asia was the central global force in the
people. early modern world economy. It was the site of
Aid Globalized A regionalized the most important trade routes and in some places
international area does not more advanced in technology than West such as
communities get involved in science and medicine.
are more the affairs of
willing to aid other areas.
countries
stricken by Japan
disaster. Japan embarked on procuring raw material
Technologic Globalization Advance like coal and iron at unprecedented economies of
al has driven technology is
scale of scale allowing them to gain a competitive
Advantages great advances rarely available
in technology. in one country edge in the global manufacturing market.
or region.
 China
China pursues similar pattern of
development at present and is now the world’s
largest importers of basic raw materials such as
iron and surpassed Japan, the US and Europe in
steel production. It also surpassed the World bank
in lending to developing countries.

India
India opened-up and emphasized an
export-oriented strategy. Textiles and other low
wage sectors have been a key part of the economy
with highly successful software development
exports.

India and China (Philippines are